Grayson  Preston-Why the FTC is cracking down on location data brokers

2025-04-29 07:12:54source:Burley Garciacategory:Contact

It's no secret — your phone knows where you are,Grayson  Preston and if that data exists, someone else might have it. Back in 2022, we covered the murky market for smartphone location data. Now, the Federal Trade Commission is cracking down on this multi-billion dollar industry. In today's episode, we explain why the agency is trying to ban a data broker from selling information tied to sensitive places like medical facilities.

Related episodes:
Ad targeting gets into your medical file (Apple / Spotify)

For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org.

Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

More:Contact

Recommend

Global Warming Set the Stage for Los Angeles Fires

Global warming caused mainly by burning of fossil fuels made the hot, dry and windy conditions that

Shop the Best 2023 Father's Day Sales: Get the Best Deals on Gifts From Wayfair, Omaha Steaks & More

We independently selected these deals and products because we love them, and we think you might like

Warming Trends: School Lunches that Help the Earth, a Coral Refuge and a Quest for Cooler Roads

Hot Cities, Cool RoadsA group of communities and organizations are partnering to find solutions to o